Iran Never to Allow Insecurity in Hormuz Strait: VP


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said the country will never allow the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route in southern Iran, to become insecure.

Speaking at a meeting with local officials of the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan on Tuesday, Jahangiri described Iran as “the guardian of the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz”.

“With its own power, the Islamic Republic of Iran will never allow the Strait of Hormuz to become insecure,” the first vice-president stressed.

Iran regards ensuring the strait’s security as its duty, he went on to say.

Iran has frequently criticized the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf, stressing that it disrupts security in the region and that only regional states are responsible for safeguarding the security in the body of water.

In remarks in 2016, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that security of the Persian Gulf region comes within the purview of the regional countries alone.

“The Persian Gulf security relates to the countries of the region which have common interests, and not to the US. So, security of the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the countries of this region itself,” the Leader said.